Flexible type shoe tree with free end membranes



Feb. 10, 1959 c. MOSES 2,872,692

FLEXIBLE TYPE SHOE TREE WITH FREE END MEMBRANES Original Filed Dec. 20,- 1955 FIG.Z

mm mm INVENTOR Charles- Moses ATTORNEY United States Patent FLEXIBLE TYPE SHOE TREE WITH FRE END MEMBRANES I Charles Moses, Long Beach, N. Y.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to shoe trees and is a division of my Patent 2,787,013, issued April 2, 1957.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive shoe tree which is light in weight and upon which a single shoe may be placed andwhich will retain the shoe in its original form without stretching or crushing the shoe or distorting it in any way due to the gentle resiliency of the various membranes of the shoe tree.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a shoe tree which is easy to insert within the shoe and easy to remove from the shoe without scraping the inside of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which can accommodate many sizes of shoes.

Other objects have been mentioned in my prior application mentioned aforesaid.

For Ia fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe tree for a single shoe.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified shoe tree.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the shoe tree 510 comprises a longitudinal membrane 511, a toe portion 517, an upper membrane 513 and two opposed side membranes 512 which begin at the upwardly extending portion of the longitudinal membrane 511 and are directed downwardly towards the front of the shoe tree terminating in free ends 516. This shoe tree has a sole engaging base portion 514, a serpentine shank portion 515 and the opposed side membranes 512 heretofore mentioned. The base portion 514 has an opening 519 to permit molding of the upper membrane 513 so that it can be withdrawn from the mold while lightening the shoe tree and saving material. Within the oute'r curve of the free end of the shank 515 there is a thickened portion 518 which is serrated and presents a longitudinal straight line with a horizontally curved face to receive and retain the back strap of an open back shoe or properly seat itself within the heel of a shoe.

The entireshoe tree 510 is formed of a single piece of material which is preferably of molded plastic. Of course, metal or wood, or like materials may also be used and formed as shown. It may also be possible to weld or rivet'the membranes together.

The free ends 516 are curved inwardly to permit easy withdrawing of the shoe tree without marring the inside of the shoe. The free ends of the upper and side membranes 513 and 512, respectively, have a certain degree of gentle resiliency which exert a slight pressure upon the inner portions of the shoe causing the shoe to retain its original shape without stretching or disletting the shoe. The upper membrane 513 presses gently upwardly against the upper forward last portion of the shoe while the side membranes 512 press outwardly against the sides of the forward last portion of the shoe. The sole portion 514 exerts a pressure upon the toe sole portion of the shoe so that all the resultant pressures cause the shoe to retain its original form without stretching or distorting the shoe in any Way. It should be noted that the side membranes 512 are longer than the upper membrane 513 and extend toward the toe portion of the shoe tree from the upwardly extending portion of the shank membrane 511.

The serpentine shank portion 515 has a substantial degree of flexibility horizontally to accommodate a number of shoe sizes.

In using the shoe tree shown and described above, the flexible membranes are inserted in the toe of the shoe and the shank portion 515 is compressed towards the toe until it catches the back strap or seats itself within the heel of the shoe. Inserting the shoe tree within the shoe does not scrape or mar the inner walls or sole of the shoe and the shoe tree may be readily removed without marring the shoe.

All of the membranes heretofore mentioned and referred to have the greatest degree of flexibility at their free ends.

Fig. 3 is a modification of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the upper flexible membrane 813 extends back further than the upper membrane 513 in order to support the upper central front portion of the shoe known as the lacing portion and tongue of the shoe, the membrane 813 extends upwardly from the toe portion 817 and sole portion 814. The rear free end 820 of the upper flexible membrane 813 is curved downwardly so that in normal position it almost touches the longitudinal membrane 811. When the shank 815 is compressed, as when the shoe tree is inserted into a shoe, the longitudinal membrane 811 moves towards the toe and presses the upper membrane 813 upwardly and forwardly, as shown by the dotted lines so that the lacing portion of the shoe receives added support. The side membranes 812 may emanate from the longitudinal membrane 811, as shown, each side membrane having a free end.

It is obvious that these shoe trees may be made in several sizes for use with mens, Womens and childrens shoes.

It is further obvious that several variations and modificat-ions of these shoe trees may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is also obvious that While three membranes have been mentioned, multiple membranes in difl'erent relationships may be used without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a shoe tree for a shoe, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip, a toe portion having a flexible top central portion at the forward end of said base member and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of the shoe, and a resilient shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly, a heel portion integral with said shank portion, said heel portion extending downwardly and upwardly from the rear of said shank member, said shank member and heel members being undulating and wave-like in form, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes exerting the greatest degree of flexibility at said free ends, said top central portion extending upwardly and rearwardly and terminating in a downwardly directed curved free end, said free end of said top central portion almost touching said shank portion, said shank portion memeaa 3 4 when resiliently compressed for adaptability, to different 2,111,669 Lazarus Mar. 22, 1938 shoe sizes moves said top central portion forwardly and 2,408,545 Barber Oct. 1, 1946 upwardly for supporting the vamp of the shoe. 2,545,090 Lau Mar. 13, 1951 2,553,933 Ola May 22, 1951 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 2,787,013 Moses Apr. 2, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 872,013 Powis Nov. 26, 1907 578,351 France June 17, 1924 1,568,432 Weise Jan. 5, 1926 632,446 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1949 

